The Late Jurassic (or Malm) Epoch of the Jurassic Period is the unit of geologic time from 161.2 ± 4.0 to 145.5 ± 4.0 million years ago, which is preserved in Upper Jurassic strata.
Subdivisions[]
The Late Jurassic is divided into three ages, which correspond with the three (faunal) stages of Upper Jurassic rock:
Tithonian | (150.8 ± 4.0 – 145.5 ± 4.0 Ma) |
Kimmeridgian | (155.7 ± 4.0 – 150.8 ± 4.0 Ma) |
Oxfordian | (161.2 ± 4.0 – 155.7 ± 4.0 Ma) |
Paleogeography[]
Pangaea broke up into two supercontinents, Laurasia to the north, and Gondwana to the south. The result of this break-up was the spawning of the Atlantic Ocean. However, at this time, the Atlantic Ocean was relatively narrow.
Hettangian | Sinemurian Pliensbachian | Toarcian |
Aalenian | Bajocian Bathonian | Callovian |
Oxfordian | Kimmeridgian Tithonian |